Friday, March 26, 2010

Fresh off the Press: Canada150 "TALKING POINTS"

•The Canada at 150: Rising to the Challenge conference opens in Montreal today.

KEY MESSAGES

•This conference is about the future of our country – what kind of a Canada we want on our 150th birthday as a nation in 2017, and what we need to be doing now to get there.•Canada at 150 rejects a fixation with short term politics in favour of the long-term focus we need for Canada to succeed.•Canadians are watching the world change right in front of them. The challenges Canadians face are big ones – they’re serious, and they won’t be solved overnight.•Canadians are worried about their jobs today, and the competitiveness of our economy in the future. •They’re worried about paying for their kid’s education, saving for their retirement and caring for aging parents.•Canada at 150 will show Canadians that we’re focused on them and their families, now and over the long-term.

KEY MESSAGES RE. ONLINE ENGAGEMENT

•A national dialogue must include all Canadians, which is why Canada at 150 is accessible online via webcast and social media to everyone, no matter if they’re in Goose Bay, Winnipeg, Nunavut or interior B.C.•Through over 70 satellite events in 130 ridings across the country, online viewers can participate in the discussion. Many of these satellite events will also feature their own guest speakers and discussion panels on issues specific to their communities.•Over 2,300 people nationwide registered in advance for the live webcast, and will be joined by many others throughout the weekend to submit their own questions and comments via Skype, online chat, Twitter, Facebook and email.•To thrive in our ever-changing world, we need to hear the perspective of all Canadians. That’s why our online audience is an active, integral part of Canada at 150.•Leading up to and after each conference session, our online moderator Randy Boissonnault will present Canadians at home and at the satellite events across the country with exclusive interviews with Canada at 150’s thinkers and doers.

BACKGROUND

•The Canada at 150 conference brings together more than 300 participants to Montreal to hear from more than 50 of Canada’s leading thinkers and doers about where Canada must be in 2017 and what we need to do now to get there.•Canada at 150 tackles five key challenges: - Jobs Today and Tomorrow: the Productive Society in 2017 - Real Life Issues for Canadian Families: How do we Care? - Energy, Environment, Economy: Growth and Responsibility in 2017 - The Creative and Competitive Economy - A Strong Presence in the World of 2017: Commerce, Values and Relationships

•In the lead-up to Montreal, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff had been leading broad and open dialogue that included more than 50 public roundtables and town halls.•In the months ahead, the results of Canada at 150 will lead to more public meetings and regional policy forums as the Liberal Party develops its platform.

Stephen Harper is the master at this:"Taliban Jack""Liberals Hate our Troops.""In it for himself""Just Visiting""We cut taxes""Coup d'etat by unelected separatist coalition""Clifford Olsen is bad. No money for him.""Global warming is a problem. No new taxes. Don't worry about it."

Unfortunatly a number of very important issues are not being addressed..I wonder why? First, every Canadian ought to be receiving a living wage. Second, the fact that 35% of children in this country are living below the proverty level. Third, 35 % of women living on OAS are way below the proverty level in this country. Fourth, health care is in a terrible mess in this country. The cutbacks regarding education in this is not affecting the elite but the middle class. Now, go ahead and tell me this is all provincial. If that is the case what does the Federal Government do?